Man City boss Pep Guardiola swipes back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has swiped back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the AC Milan striker claimed the Spaniard’s ego could be too big to allow Erling Haaland to thrive at the Etihad Stadium. The Citizens signed Haaland from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, and the ace has already banged in 22 goals in 15 appearances this season.

Guardiola signed Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan in 2009 when he was in charge of Barcelona after stumping up £40million to acquire his services. But the striker failed to hit his usual heights at the Nou Camp and was shipped off on loan to AC Milan a year later, before completing a permanent move to the Italian club in 2011.

Ibrahimovic has previously slammed Guardiola in a book, claiming the former Spain international mistreated him at Barcelona and would leave a room whenever the player entered it. And the Sweden international laid into the City boss once again earlier this week when asked about Haaland.

“Is Guardiola able to improve him?” said Ibrahimovic. “That depends on the ego that Guardiola has, if he allows himself to be bigger than Haaland or not. He didn’t allow me or the others to be as big.”

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But when quizzed about Ibrahimovic’s comments, Guardiola offered a sarcastic response as he took aim at the player. “He is right, he is completely right,” replied the ex-midfielder. “In this club, in this team, my ego is beyond every other person, every player.

“I don’t like it when Erling scores three goals and all the highlights are for him. I’m so jealous. Honestly, I’m so jealous. I said, ‘Erling, please no more goals, otherwise The Sun and Daily Mail won’t talk about me, and just about me. He’s right, he knows me perfectly. Maybe he can write another book.”

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And Guardiola then reiterated his point when it was put to him that he was being sarcastic. “No, I’m right in what I’m saying,” he added. “My ego is woosh.”

Guardiola took over as City boss in 2016 and has since led the club to four Premier League titles, four League Cups and the FA Cup. But the 51-year-old hasn’t been able to get his hands on the Champions League trophy during his time in England. The signing of Haaland could change that this season, however, with City progressing to the knockout stages of the competition as Group G winners after remaining unbeaten throughout the group stages.

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